G-B wheat subsidy: AAC ends protests after successful talks with government

ISLAMABAD: The Gilgit Baltistan (GB) action committee on Saturday announced an end to their 11-day long sit-in and protests over wheat subsidies after successful dialogue with the government committee.

Both committees finalised their recommendations which will be sent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for final approval.

Federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Chaudhry Barjees Tahir had led the government's committee, which included members such as Amjed Hussain Advocate, Muhammad Ibrahim, Bashir Ahmed Khan and Maulana Atta Ullah Shuhab, to talk with the G-B action committee.

The G-B action committee comprised of Shaikh Nasir Zamani, Maulana Abdul Sami and Mirza Hussain.

Protests, sit-ins and strikes had hit the region for the past 10 days over a government move to reduce wheat subsidy in the hard to reach region.

The reduction in subsidy had elicited a strong reaction from the residents of G-B who had coalesced under the banner of the 23-party strong Awami Action Committee (AAC), which was demanding a restoration of the subsidy.

The AAC saw the resident religious communities come together to present their demands together.

Earlier this week, the government had formed a committee to talk to the AAC to resolve the matter.